Homeopathy
There have been several reviews of the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy. TheHouse of Commons Science and Technology Committee said there is no evidence that homeopathy is effective as a treatment for any health condition.
There is no evidence for the idea that substances that can induce certain symptoms can also help to treat them. There is no evidence for the idea that diluting and shaking substances in water can turn those substances into medicines.
The ideas that underpin homeopathy are not accepted by mainstream science, and are not consistent with long-accepted principles on the way that the physical world works. The Committee's 2010report on homeopathy said the "like cures like" principle is "theoretically weak", and that this is the "settled view of medical science".
It is of note, for example, that many homeopathic remedies are diluted to such an extent that there is unlikely to be a single molecule of the original substance remaining in the final remedy. In cases such as these, homeopathic remedies consist of nothing but water.
Some homeopaths believe that, due to the succussion process, the original substance leaves an "imprint" of itself on the water. But there is no known mechanism by which this can occur. The 2010 report said: "We consider the notion that ultra-dilutions can maintain an imprint of substances previously dissolved in them to be scientifically implausible."
Some people who use homeopathy may see an improvement in their health condition due to a phenomenon known as the placebo effect.
If you choose health treatments that provide only a placebo effect, you may miss out on other treatments that have been proven to be more effective. .
Homeopathy is a 'treatment' based on the use of highly diluted substances, which practitioners claim can cause the body to heal itself.
Homeopathy is a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) . This means that homeopathy is different in important ways from treatments that are part of conventional Western medicine. It is based on a
There has been extensive investigation of the effectiveness of homeopathy. There is no good-quality evidence that homeopathy is effective as a treatment for any health condition (see What can we concl
Homeopathy is usually practised privately and homeopathic remedies are available from pharmacies. The price for an initial consultation with a homeopath can vary from around 20 to 80. Homeopathic tabl
When you first see a homeopath they will usually ask you about any specific health conditions, but also about your general wellbeing, emotional state, lifestyle and diet. Based on this, the homeopath
Homeopathy is used for an extremely wide range of health conditions. Many practitioners believe that homeopathy can help with any condition. Among the most common conditions that people seek homeopath
There is no legal regulation of homeopathic practitioners. This means that anyone can practise as a homeopath, even if they have no qualifications or experience. Voluntary regulation aims to protect p
Homeopathic remedies are generally safe and the risk of a serious adverse side effect arising from taking these remedies is thought to be small. Some homeopathic remedies may contain substances that a
There have been several reviews of the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy. TheHouse of Commons Science and Technology Committee said there is no evidence that homeopathy is effecti